A Journal that looks at the 75 stories in the Book of Acts. This exciting Book of the NT carefully documents the birth of the early Church throughout the Roman Empire. In this journal we will want to highlight our key verse and a personal key truth as well as an application or prayer that we can take from this portion of Scripture. Read along with me - journal or comment on what you discovered.
Acts 1:1-11
The Book of Acts opens with Jesus' ascension into heaven - but not before telling the disciples of the power they will receive from the Holy Spirit to do the task that He has given them. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) And in that one statement, the purpose is given to all believers in Christ - to be witnesses of Christ in every situation that life brings us.
Acts 1:11, 18
Several great truths are found in this passage. That we, as believers, have been given the Holy Spirit to carry out the tasks of God. Also, the Ascension of Christ before witnesses. And then the promise of Christ return, just as he ascended.
I need to be forever mindful to be a witness of Christ in every situation of my life and to be ready and eager for the return of Christ.
Lord, I marvel at your power and your resolve to carry out your purpose. I worship you! You are the Christ the Son of the living God. I wait for your return. Give me the power of the Holy Spirit to do your work here while on this earth.
Acts 1:12-26
As Jesus ascends, the disciples return to the upper room where about 120 people were staying. What are they doing there? Praying. During this time Peter stands and takes charge and describes how Scripture prophesied the events concerning Judas and that it was time to chose a replacement. They pray, pick straws and Matthias is chosen.
It is interesting to me as to how Peter was able to speak with authority, give clear guidance, even quoting the Scriptures as to their actions. I think this is nothing other than the Holy Spirit's power upon Peter. The others there must have recognized this.
Acts 1:20, 21
I think the power and reality of prayer. It is the answer to prayer that led them to lead them and provide them guidance as to how to move forward in choosing another apostle. Also, the power of the Holy Spirit that guided this group of believers.
Thank you God for the Holy Spirit. Today I yield to You, surrendering all of myself to the Holy Spirit's guidance and understanding. I need and want the Holy Spirit's filling. Give me eyes that see what you want me to see, a mind that understands what you want me to and the strength to follow you today.
Acts 2:1-15 - On the day of Pentecost, God’s Spirit empowered the apostles to preach about Jesus’ death and resurrection in different languages. When the people in Jerusalem heard the gospel preached in their native languages, they came together in one place - "amazed and perplexed" at what they were hearing. They began to ask what this all meant.
Acts 2:5
The Power of the Holy Spirit that enabled the apostles to preach the gospel with great power and authority. Through the Holy Spirit, the God-fearing Jews heard the gospel preached in their native language. The great truth is not the gift of tongues, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled the apostles in the proclamation of the gospel.
My role is to step forward in obedience to do what God has asked me to do. It is the Holy Spirit that will give me the power or ability. Dear God, fill me with your Spirit to enable me to do what you desire of me. Give me a heart that has been prepared to properly hear what you want me to hear.
Acts 2:14-26
In the days and months following Pentecost, the new believers quickly developed an authentic Biblical Community - and they didn't even try. It doesn't say that they sat down and had a brain storming session on what to do - it just happened as they committed themselves to the Apostles teaching - they had a spiritual thirst for the Apostles' teaching, the fellowship of other believers and to prayer. Their actions beyond this flowed out of their initial thirst. The outcome was that they enjoyed each other, gave praise to God and they took care of one another.
No wonder this initial Biblical Community became magnetic. There was something completely different about their life and they could not help to want it as well. The primary person in this community was the Holy Spirit, dwelling with and within them.
Acts 2:42
The primacy of the Apostle's teaching concerning the Scriptures and their commitment to prayer. This is to be some of the primary components of a Biblical Community. The Holy Spirit takes up residence here.
Lord, it is that thirst for the Scriptures - to know the fullness of Christ, that's what i want. wherever I am, help me to contribute to a Biblical Community, according to the gifts you have given me. Help me to see the needs of others and as I teach, that it would be with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 3:1-10
In the days following Pentecost, Peter and John go up to the temple and find a beggar at the gate of the temple - he was begging for money and had done so since birth. The man was robotically calling for help in their direction but Peter looked into his eyes and commanded his attention to be solely theirs. "I don't have money but i have something far better. Through Christ, i can give you your legs back - your real need" Peter reaches out to him and lifts him to his feet and meanwhile the Holy Spirit made the cripples feet straight and ankles whole including all the ligaments and muscles that were connected to them. the ex-cripple praised God with a loud voice and the strides and jumps of an Olympian. Everyone was amazed.
I'm choosing Acts 3:4 where Peter look directly at the man - directly into his eyes.
Giving Away My Faith (Ephesians 6:19-20. I give away my faith to fulfill God’s purposes). A key truth I learned was concerning the believer's competency about "giving away our faith". Peter and John wasted no time at looking directly into the eyes of the cripple. Unless we look directly into the eyes of those in need around us, we will never be successful in addressing these needs. Having the right programs is not enough. It is with the filling of the prayed-up, Spirit filled life and then getting out there and getting to know - personally - the needs, we will just be shooting religious blanks.
Dear Lord, I want to know you and the power of your resurrection. I want to experience daily, the filling our your Spirit. Show me the needs that are in my community, those that you have purposed for me and help me to see the needs as look directly into their eyes and faces. Give me your power and wisdom to understand the hurts and true needs for those i am in contact with.
Authors: Gerry Peters
The Story: When Peter sees how astonished the people are at healing of this crippled man, one that they had seen everyday at the temple gate, he quickly stands to address them concerning the source from where this healing came. He tells them of how it was this man's faith in the man Jesus Christ, the one they had turned
...Authors: Gerry Peters
Acts 4:1-22
The Story: When the Sadducces heard that Peter and John were preaching the resurrection - the Sadduccees did not believe in the resurrection - and in particular the resurrection of Jesus, they had felt they needed to put an emergency plan into action. They have them arrested.
Next day they are brought to trial and
...Authors: Gerry Peters
The Story: When Peter and John get out of jail, they go directly to "their own people" - their community of believers. What's amazing about this story is how their fellow believers respond. Instead of praying for safety, they pray for great boldness to speak the resurrection message of Jesus and that God would allow great
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